Coombs' method

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Coombs' method is a ranked voting system popularized by Clyde Coombs.^[1] It was described by Edward J. Nanson as the "Venetian method",^[2] but should not be confused with the Republic of Venice's use of score voting in elections for Doge. Coombs' method can be thought of as a cross between instant-runoff voting and anti-plurality voting.

Like instant runoff, Coombs' method candidate elimination and redistribution of votes cast for that candidate until one candidate has a majority of votes. However, unlike instant-runoff, each round eliminates the candidate rated last by the most voters (instead of first by the fewest voters).^[1]

The method fails most voting system criteria, including Condorcet's majority criterion, monotonicity, participation, and clone-independence.^[3][4] However, it does satisfy the median voter property.